Korma trauma

Describing her experience as ‘korma trauma’, Emmer Sheridan, 31, said the discovery of the object literally made her physically sick.

Emmer said: “On May 24 I found what I believed to be the remains of a rodent in a jar of Iceland’s own brand of korma sauce. I am a lone parent who shops to budget so my treat was the fresh chicken from the local town butchers.

“When I was making the supper for me and my nine-year-old daughter, Ellanor, I was utterly shocked and in disbelief as I poured the sauce out of the jar and this big black object fell onto the chicken.

“When I picked it out to see what it was it felt soft and leather-like with hard white gristly bits that I would describe as bone.

“I was then physically sick with the shock and then bleached the kitchen sides and cooking utensils - it really shook me up to think something like that could be in my food.

Emmer bought the sauce at Iceland in Devonshire Road, and the day following the grisly discovery returned the jar and its contents.

Emmer was reimbursed £5.15 to cover the cost of the sauce and chicken, and assured that her findings would be sent to Iceland’s head office to be investigated

However, a couple of weeks later, having heard nothing from the frozen food giants about the contents of the jar, Emmer rang the store to see what the results were

But she was shocked to be told the jar was still in the Bexhill store.

Emmer said: “I was told by the store that the jar is still inside their chill freezer and they only sent off the paperwork on Monday as they only have internal post once a week.

“I then rang their head office on June 6 to try and get the matter dealt with but they told me a complaint can take up to 28 days to be processed.

Emmer said the whole experience left her feeling traumatised and she hasn’t been able to eat well since

With the recent E.Coli outbreak very much on her mind she is both annoyed and baffled at the apparent lethargy Iceland have shown in dealing with her complaint and doubts she will ever shop there again.

“The thing that disturbs me most is that that jar is still in Bexhill. Was my jar a one -ff or are all Iceland home brand sauces contaminated?

“How could happen from a well trusted food outlet?

“The very thought of the whole ordeal brings chills to my stomach.”

In response to Observer enquiries a spokesperson for Iceland said:“We can confirm that Ms Sheridan bought the product on the May 24 from our Bexhill on Sea store.

“Please be assured that Iceland take all complaints seriously. Unfortunately the store manager was unavailable to speak to Ms Sheridan when she called in the store on Saturday June 4 and for this we apologise.

“We can confirm the product has been collected from the store by courier and delivered to our supplier for a full investigation.

“Once this investigation has been completed, they will write to Ms Sheridan and to ourselves with the results.

“We can also confirm that in the meantime, we have sent Ms Sheridan a letter enclosing a £10 voucher as a gesture of goodwill.”